Traffic signal



Jan. 30, 1940. 5 H MMOND 2,188,604

TRAFFI C S IGNAL Filed May 12, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lnliill w "WW! lInventor ajfamwand A iio'meys Jan. 30, 1940. B. c. HAMMOND TRAFFICSIGNAL Filed May 12, 1938 Attorneys 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Inventor PatentedJan. 30, 1940 Burnham 0. Hammond, Hartford, Mich. Application May 12,1938, Serial No. 207,625-

' 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in trafficsignals of the green and red go and stop light type for street andhighway intersections and has for its primary ob- 5 ject to provide, ina manner'as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodyingnovel means for indicating the length of time that will elapse beforethe signals change.

Another very important object of the inven- 3 tion is to provide atraflic signal of the aforementioned character comprising a casinghaving therein a plurality of partitions of a novel construction andarrangement providing compartments or chambers accommodating theelectric lights and the indicator operating mechanism.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a traffic signal of thecharacter described which will be comparatively simple in construction,strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact,attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an embodi- 30 merit of the device.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on theline 33 of Fig. 1.

which has been illustrated comprises a substantially square casing ofsuitable material which is designated generally by the reference numeralI. Any suitable supporting means, as at 2, may be provided for thecasing I. The vertical walls of the substantially square casing I hasmounted therein screens which are designated generally prises green andred segments 4 and 5, respectively.

Mounted vertically in the casing I are angular partitions 6 providinglight compartments 1. The

55 vertical partitions 6 are angular in horizontal Figure 4 is a detailview in elevation of one of by the reference numeral 3. Each screen 3comsection, as shown to advantage in Fig. 3 of the drawings, "and saidpartitions including diagonal intermediate portions 8 on which electriclamps 9 are mounted. The portions 8 of the partitions 6 provide acentral compartment II) in the casing I extending from the top II to thebottom II" of said casing. It will be observed that each electric lamp 9is adapted to illuminate a green and a red segment of a pair of thescreens 3.

The reference numeral I I designates a vertical shaft which isjournalled in bearings I2 provided therefor in the center compartmentIll of the casing I. Fixed on the lower portion of the shaft l I is abevelled gear I3 which is driven by a shaft I4 from an electric motor I5in one of the compartments 1. Another bevelled gear I6 is fixed on thevertical shaft I I at an intermediate point.

The reference numeral I 8 designates a plurality of horizontal shaftswhich are journalled in suitable bearings I9 provided therefor betweenthe spaced partitions 6. This is shown to advantage in Figs. 2 and 3 ofthe drawings. Bevelled gears are fixed on the inner end portions of theshafts I8 and are driven by the gear I6. Indicators 2!, of substantiallythe shape shown to advantage in Fig. 4 of the drawings, are fixed on theouter end portions of the shafts I8 for rotation closely adjacent thescreens 3 in a manner to cast shadows on the screen segments l and 5when the respective lamps 9 are illuminated.

Mounted on one of the shafts I8 is a suitable switch for controlling theelectric lamps 9, said switch being designated generally by thereference numeral 22. The switch 22, in the embodiment shown, comprisesa ring 23 of suitable insulating material which is fixed on one of theshafts I8. Mounted on the outer periphery of the insulating ring 23 is aconductor plate 24 of substantially the shape shown to advantage in Fig.6 of the drawings. A brush 25, which is con -nected with a suitablesource of current supply, is engaged with the substantially continuousintermediate portion of the plate 24. A pair of brushes 26 ride on theperiphery of the ring 23 for contact with the laterally projecting sideportions of the plate 24. One of the brushes ZS-is electricallyconnected to a diagonally 0pposite pair of the electric lamps, 9 whilethe other brush 2% is electrically connected to the remaining diagonallyopposite lamps.

, It is thought that the operation of the device will be readilyapparent from a consideration of the foregoing. The electric motor I5 isenergized gears. As the shafts l8 rotate the indicators 2| swing in acircle closely adjacent the inner sides of the screens 3. Through themedium of the switch 22, the diagonally opposite pairs of lamps 9 arealternately energized. Thus, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings, thegreen segments only of the screens facing north and south will beilluminated while the red segments only of the screens facing east andwest will be illuminated. As the segments are thus illuminated theindicators 2! travel therebehind for casting a shadow thereon forindicating to both the moving and standing streams of trafic when thesignals will change, or rather, to permit an estimate to be made of thelength of time that will elapse before a change occurs.

It is believed that the many advantages of a trafiic signal constructedin accordance with the present invention will be readily understood andalthough a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed isi In a traflic signal a casing of rectangular shape incross section and having an opening in each of its four sides, asectional light screen covering each opening, the sections beingslightly separated at the vertical center of each screen, fourpartitions vertically arranged in the casing for dividing the same intofour chambers, each partition being of substantially angular shape inplan with a diagonal portion connecting one limb of the partition withthe other limb and said diagonal portions of the four partitions forminga small vertically arranged central chamber, the limbs of the partitionsbeing separated to form narrow spaces which are vertically arranged,bearing means in said spaces and connected with the partitions, shaftspassing through the hearing means, indicators fixed on the outer ends ofthe shafts and movable over the inner faces of the screens, a driveshaft vertically arranged in the vertical cental chamber, gearingconnecting said vertical shaft with the first-mentioned shafts.

BURNHAM C. HAMMOND. 25

